Birmingham attorney Amy Jordan, a 2001 Auburn graduate, is trying to raise at least $25,000 for blood cancer research through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Man & Woman of the Year competition so fewer people have to say “I never knew them”—mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, or in Amy’s case, grandfather.

Amy’s grandfather, Shug Jordan, died in 1980 when Amy was one, just three months after he was diagnosed with leukemia.

Jordan says those with connections with blood cancer are typically nominated for the fundraising contest, “which this year started March 7 and ends May 14.

“They (LLS) approached me to participate because of the connection with my grandfather,” she says.

Shug and Evelyn Jordan admiring their new granddaughter shortly after she was born

Jordan is currently going up against four women. Each dollar donated is a vote. The candidate with the most votes will be named Woman of The Year for the Birmingham area and later compete nationally.

And she just might. Jordan has plenty of experience with soliciting donations. She sits on the advisory board for the Greater Birmingham Auburn Club and is heavily involved in scholarship fundraising for Auburn’s College of Liberal Arts.

“I feel good about where we are so far, a little over two weeks in,” she says. “The great thing about it is that I’ve reached out to my grandfather’s former football players and I’m getting amazing letters and stories about how he touched so many people’s lives. I never knew him so I love hearing those stories about how thankful they are (to have known him).”

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